{"id":18998,"date":"2021-02-15T20:54:29","date_gmt":"2021-02-15T20:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theoklahomaeagle.net\/?p=18998"},"modified":"2021-02-15T20:54:29","modified_gmt":"2021-02-15T20:54:29","slug":"tulsa-winter-weather-update-feb-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/2021\/02\/15\/tulsa-winter-weather-update-feb-15\/","title":{"rendered":"Tulsa Winter Weather Update Feb. 15"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Oklahoma Eagle Newswire<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe city of Tulsa continues to be under an emergency declaration in response to winter weather &#8211; the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (TAEMA) Emergency Operations Plan is being followed. TAEMA\u2019s Emergency Operations Center is now fully activated.<br \/>\n<strong>If Power Outages Occur <\/strong><br \/>\nIn the event of a power outage or rolling outages, the City\u2019s critical infrastructure, such as 911 and police and fire dispatch will remain unaffected. City utilities are also not affected.<br \/>\nPSO is asking customers to try to limit their energy usage at this time to help conserve power and prevent outages. For more information on cold weather safety and energy conservation, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.psoklahoma.com\/\">www.psoklahoma.com<\/a>.<br \/>\n<strong><u>Keeping You Safe During Power Outages<\/u><\/strong><br \/>\nDue to the extremely cold temperatures, it\u2019s imperative Tulsans practice safety measures in the event of a power outage. Many things can go wrong in residences if proper safety measures are not followed. Having inadequate power generating and heating sources are one of the main causes for concern during power outages in extremely cold temperatures.<br \/>\nBefore your power goes out, make sure your devices are charged and make preparations now. If power does go off, keep the warmth in your home and refrain from opening exterior doors or windows. To keep more heat in, you can place towels under doors and on windowsills. Make sure you have adequate clothing and blankets inside your home to help.<br \/>\nFor more information on keeping you safe during power outages, visit: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ready.gov\/power-outages\">www.ready.gov\/power-outages<\/a>.<br \/>\n<strong>Generator Safety<\/strong><br \/>\nIf you lose power and plan to utilize a portable generator, the generator should always be operated on the exterior of your home.\u00a0It is important to keep them away from windows or any other places that would facilitate the fumes entering your home.<br \/>\n<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Check On Your Neighbors<\/strong><br \/>\nDon\u2019t wait for your elderly family members or neighbors to ask for help. Be proactive and ask what you can do to help. In these extreme events, the elderly, infants and toddlers are the most susceptible. Call or check in on them to make sure they have adequate and safe heating sources in their home. If absolutely necessary, ask what errands, if any, you could help them with.<br \/>\n<strong>Medicines and Medical-Dependent Devices<\/strong><br \/>\nIf you have medicines that need to be kept cold, ensure you have a place to store them in the event of an outage. If you own medical-dependent devices, ensure you have a battery backup plan in place in the event you cannot plug it into the wall.<br \/>\n<strong>Check Your Fridge During Outages<\/strong><br \/>\nIf a power outage occurs, check your food before eating it the next time you take it out of the fridge, check your food before eating it the next time you take it out. To keep your fridge from becoming warm, keep all doors shut. If you have items in your freezer you don\u2019t want to ruin, you can put them outside. Other items in your fridge can be put in your garage, but you need to check on items you don\u2019t want to freeze (this depends on how cold your garage is).<br \/>\n<strong>Heating Safety During Outages<\/strong><br \/>\nThough space heaters can be useful, they can be very dangerous if not utilized in a safe manner.<br \/>\nSpace heater usage guidelines:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Keep it at least 3 feet from all combustible items<\/li>\n<li>Plug it directly into the wall without using extension cords<\/li>\n<li>Only one heater should be plugged into each outlet<\/li>\n<li>Only utilize electric space heaters \u2013 no gas-fueled heaters should be utilized indoors<\/li>\n<li>Never leave a space heater unattended (children and pets can easily knock them over causing fires)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Please do not use ovens or stoves as heating devices, especially appliances that utilize gas.\u00a0These can create a carbon monoxide danger in your home. Also, do not use propane heaters not intended for indoor use, either, as they can pose a carbon monoxide risk.<br \/>\n<strong>Turn of High-Usage Appliances<\/strong><br \/>\nIf the power is turned off while you are in the middle of using appliances that are using more power than others (washers, dryers, etc.) you could risk damaging your appliance. Please refrain from doing laundry and other tasks that require high energy usage.<br \/>\n<strong>Check Your Smoke Detectors <\/strong><br \/>\nIf your alarms are hard wired into your home, make sure they have battery backup power in the event of an outage.<br \/>\nTulsa Fire is asking residents to check smoke detectors to ensure they are operating properly. It\u2019s also recommended residents purchase and install a Carbon Monoxide detector if they do not currently have one, as many heaters run off of natural gas.<br \/>\n<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Check Your Pipes <\/strong><br \/>\nThe extreme cold can freeze your water pipes, so it\u2019s important to stay aware and take steps to protect your pipes and your property. With the potential for power outages, it\u2019s more important than ever to ensure the integrity of your home\u2019s water system.<br \/>\nTo <strong>protect your water pipes<\/strong> from extreme cold, you should:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Turn your faucets in a position that allows them to slowly drip consistently<\/li>\n<li>Open cabinet doors below faucets allowing warm air to contact the pipes &#8211; this is especially important for faucets located on walls that are on the outside perimeter of your home<\/li>\n<li>If you normally store cleaning supplies in these cabinets, it\u2019s important to relocate them to a safe storage spot that children and pets cannot access<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>If water is not flowing<\/strong> out of your pipes, you should:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Leave faucets open and make sure your cabinets are open\n<ul>\n<li>Leaving faucets open makes sure you can expedite the thawing process<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Apply a safe heating source facing the walls with the frozen pipes in them to warm them up\n<ul>\n<li>Never use a blowtorch or an open flame device to warm your pipes<\/li>\n<li>Make sure your heating source is away from any flammable materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Call a plumber if running water does not flow to your pipes in a reasonable amount of time \u2013 if the pipe is located on an exterior wall, it\u2019s imperative to act swiftly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Additional tips on protecting your water pipes can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityoftulsa.org\/government\/departments\/water-and-sewer\/water-supply\/preventing-frozen-and-busted-water-pipes\/\">online<\/a>.<br \/>\n<strong>Outages Will Impact Traffic Signals\u00a0 <\/strong><br \/>\nIn the event of a power outage, the City expects traffic signals to be impacted. Impacted signals will go black. It\u2019s asked drivers be extra cautious on roadways and near intersections. If a signal goes black, drivers should treat that intersection as a 4-way stop.<br \/>\n<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Snow Operations Update<\/strong><br \/>\nCity crews are utilizing group plowing to clear the snow that fell across the area earlier today. Crews will continue to work throughout the duration of this event to get snow cleared from arterial roadways. Plows are the main device being used today, as applying salt would make it easy for the plows to push it off of the roadways. Salt also does not activate nearly as well with temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit.<br \/>\nIf you have to be driving, please be mindful of City crews and snow plows.<br \/>\nIt\u2019s important for anyone who will be driving in these conditions to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Slow down<\/li>\n<li>Allow for at least 150 feet between your vehicle and a snow plow (this is roughly the same distance from a football field\u2019s goal line to the 50 yard line)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There have been instances of private businesses and their contractors using snow plows in parking lots, pushing snow out into public streets. This should not occur, as it makes the City\u2019s job tougher. Property owners should designate a spot on their properties where the snow can be piled.<br \/>\n<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Tulsa Animal Welfare Update <\/strong><br \/>\nTulsa Animal Welfare (TAW) will be closed to the public both today and tomorrow due to inclement weather. TAW officers will respond to emergency calls only, such as cruelty and bite calls. There are no appointments to see animals today or tomorrow, except for residents needing to drop off animals for an emergency. In the case of such an emergency, please call TAW at (918) 596-8001.<br \/>\n<strong>Waterline Break Updates<\/strong><br \/>\nThis morning, the City was working on more than 40 waterline breaks. Due to the extremely cold temperatures, this is not unexpected. Eight crews were working on these breaks today, along with an additional six crews from the City\u2019s emergency contractor. Four crews will stay and work overnight to address waterline breaks as they happen.<br \/>\nThe City has asked crews to frequently rotate and warm up in their vehicles whenever needed. Some repairs will take longer due to the cold temperatures.<br \/>\nDrivers should be aware of areas where there are orange cones and other traffic devices, as many of these are areas in the road where the waterline was repaired, but the road has not yet been repaired. When temperatures rebound, City crews will be able to fully repair the street when asphalt and other materials are able to be used.<br \/>\n<strong>Homeless Shelter Funding Update<\/strong><br \/>\nIn the last five days, Tulsans have rallied to support their vulnerable neighbors, raising more than $100,000 and counting, with the philanthropic community now having contributed more than $1 million to combat homelessness. Now, Housing Solutions has set the bar higher, asking for an additional $1 million in the next 60 days to support those experiencing homelessness.<br \/>\nTo help meet this goal, Mayor Bynum will bring a budget amendment to the Tulsa City Council to join the effort and contribute $130,000 in CARES Act funds to Housing Solutions. These funds will pay for hotel stays that have proven to save the lives of our unsheltered neighbors.<br \/>\nOver the coming months, the funds will keep people in hotels as we work with A Way Home for Tulsa partners to achieve permanent housing. The fund will also help people with things like rent, security deposits and other housing-related costs.<br \/>\nTo date, the City has provided more than $3.8 million in CARES Act funds in combatting homelessness.<br \/>\nTo donate or send checks to help reach Housing Solutions\u2019 $2 million goal, visit: \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.givelively.org%2Fdonate%2Fthe-center-for-housing-solutions-inc%2Fgive-hope&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cccolvin%40cityoftulsa.org%7Ca3b15315e2f544b1247f08d8d111ebde%7C79d58ae020484d8c9c598b1b7dfb4204%7C0%7C0%7C637489222198597395%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=mHWN96DRmJ%2F6jdiyP5DHYIOSLOmvvXnY16m90pLyTdw%3D&amp;reserved=0\">https:\/\/secure.givelively.org\/donate\/the-center-for-housing-solutions-inc\/give-hope<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Gas Usage Update<\/strong><br \/>\nOklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) is asking customers to be mindful of their gas usage and is encouraging people to take measures to limit unneeded usage. Due to the unprecedented weather conditions, ONG is seeing potential for stressed gas supply.<br \/>\nSome easy ways residents can conserve gas include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Keep warm, not hot \u2013 if you\u2019re too warm in your residence, turn your heat down<\/li>\n<li>Turn the heat down on your hot water tank \u2013 this will help gas usage with little impact on the customer<\/li>\n<li>Hold off doing chores that involve using gas appliances until temperatures rebound<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more ways on how to conserve gas, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.oklahomanaturalgas.com\/\">www.oklahomanaturalgas.com<\/a>.<br \/>\n<strong>Refuse &amp; Recycling Update<\/strong><br \/>\nTo keep City crews safe, there will be no refuse or recycling services today. Additionally, there will be no bulky waste services through Thursday.<br \/>\nIt\u2019s asked residents be patient during this time. The City will make every attempt to get caught up once weather conditions improve.<br \/>\nThe City will re-evaluate this evening in anticipation of higher temperatures forecasted for Tuesday. The City will begin servicing refuse first when temperatures rise above 10 degrees. If crews are able to pick up on Tuesday, they will operate on a holiday schedule, with Monday customers being picked up on Tuesday, Tuesday customers being picked up on Wednesday, and so on.<br \/>\nCustomers who have extra trash that will not fit inside the refuse bin can place a reasonable amount of bagged trash outside and next to their gray trash cart. Only trash, not recycling, should be placed in your gray trash cart or on the curb.<br \/>\nAdditionally, the City of Tulsa Mulch Site is also closed until further notice.<br \/>\n<strong>Freezing Water Safety\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><br \/>\nResidents should STAY OFF freezing bodies of water, as the ice isn\u2019t thick enough to safely support someone. Parents should take extra caution to ensure children are not trying to play on things like frozen pools, ponds, lakes and streams. Things like ice fishing and ice skating are not safe in these conditions on bodies of water that have just frozen over.<br \/>\n<strong>Winter Weather Preparedness<\/strong><br \/>\nIt is important to prepare now and plan for several days of snow and extreme cold. If you have to get out, please make sure your vehicle is prepared with a winter car kit and your gas tank is full. TFD recommends against travel in these winter weather conditions, as the temperatures are potentially lethal if you aren\u2019t properly prepared. If you have to get out, make sure you bring extra clothing and bring a cell phone that is fully charged. For more winter weather preparation tips, visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ready.gov%2Fwinter-weather&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cccolvin%40cityoftulsa.org%7Cc3ffd536eeb343b1ae0908d8cee4d331%7C79d58ae020484d8c9c598b1b7dfb4204%7C0%7C0%7C637486829475769098%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=Q14aKcTKRAolITl9s5wByGtqQhhiDpw2ico2OOnL18U%3D&amp;reserved=0\">www.ready.gov\/winter-weather<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Frostbite Prevention<\/strong><br \/>\nResidents who do not have to go outside should stay indoors. With temperatures dipping below zero and windchills well below zero, it only takes 15-30 minutes for exposed skin to develop frostbite. It\u2019s vitally important to wear multiple layers when outside and cover any exposed skin with things like gloves, hats, face masks, goggles, etc. If you will be traveling, even for a short distance, bring extra clothing and blankets with you. In the chance your car breaks down or gets stuck and you have to walk, being unprepared could be deadly.<br \/>\n<strong>Homelessness Response <\/strong><br \/>\nTAEMA remains in constant contact with area homeless shelters. All shelters report they have beds currently available. There are multiple outreach teams working to communicate the threat of upcoming weather to the encampments in Tulsa, and are attempting to convince as many of the unhoused population to seek shelter leading into the weekend as possible.\u00a0TAEMA is working to provide material assistance to shelter operations to ensure they have the ability to continue to serve the community.<br \/>\nHousing Solutions, the City of Tulsa and community partners are working to get those experiencing homelessness inside during this cold snap.<br \/>\nThe City is urging those who are outside to come inside without fear of losing their things \u2013 this has been a main concern among many who continue to choose to stay outside. The City and its community partners are not cleaning up homeless encampments or taking people\u2019s possessions if they are left outside at this time.<br \/>\nTeams across the City are continuing to frequent known encampments and encourage people to come inside. If you see someone who you think needs assistance in the cold, please fill out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.housingsolutionstulsa.org\/contact\/assistance-request\/?fbclid=IwAR328TW3wNLNq8DzNA_sfG2n3g47BRtZSyb-s9e3AV4E28wUGJMX4s85wEQ\">this form<\/a> so outreach personnel can make contact.<br \/>\nYesterday afternoon, the City was able to access an encampment in south Tulsa utilizing a drone to help reach individuals. Due to these efforts, a dozen additional people were able to secure a safe and warm shelter.\u00a0Outreach teams have now responded to every known encampment within the city and have been able to provide shelter to every single person seeking warm shelter. Yesterday evening, outreach teams were able to secure shelter for every person at an encampment located on West Brady St. under the I-244 bridge as well.<br \/>\nSome residents have tried to purchase fire pits and firewood and have been unloading these items at encampments, discouraging those experiencing homelessness to seek shelter.\u00a0These efforts are also causing fire dangers. We are asking residents to allow the outreach teams to do their job so everyone can stay safe and seek shelter during this extreme weather as hypothermia and frostbite can occur in as little as 30 minutes.<br \/>\nThere are multiple shelters available to those experiencing homelessness. Housing Solutions is working to get anyone who needs shelter into a local shelter at this time.<br \/>\nRight now, Tulsa shelters in operation include:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>The City\u2019s Overflow Shelter at the former Juvenile Justice Detention Center<\/li>\n<li>Tulsa County Emergency Shelter<\/li>\n<li>Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, 415 W. Archer St.<\/li>\n<li>John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne Ave.<\/li>\n<li>Salvation Army, 102 N. Denver Ave.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Tulsa Parks Updates<\/strong><br \/>\nTulsa Parks community centers will be closed Monday due to winter weather. Additionally, Oxley Nature Center will also be closed on Monday. Student Support Camps, which serve students who are practicing distance learning at various community centers, will not be in operation on Monday due \u00a0to the holiday.<br \/>\n<strong>Inspections Availability <\/strong><br \/>\nDue to inclement weather, Inspection Services is only performing critical utilities inspections, such as repairs made due to removed \u00a0gas, electric and water meters. To schedule an inspection for critical utility repairs, contact Phil Bradley at (918) 798-8031, Steve Malugani at (918) 519-8746, or Bob Kolibas at (918) 261-9129.<br \/>\nPlease note that after hours inspections will be charged as overtime inspections billed at $260.<br \/>\n<strong>City of Tulsa Snow &amp; Ice Response<\/strong><br \/>\nThe City of Tulsa is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the Gilcrease Expressway, L.L. Tisdale Expressway and all arterial (main) streets. Other highway segments in Tulsa are the responsibility of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.<br \/>\nAfter a snow or ice storm begins, the goal is to make expressways and arterial streets safe and passable as soon as possible. These resources are available to attain this goal:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>62 truck-mounted salt spreaders<\/li>\n<li>4 truck-mounted Liquid Applicator Systems for brine application<\/li>\n<li>48 truck-mounted snow plows (Of the 62 trucks with spreaders, and 4 trucks with Liquid Applicator Systems, 48 have plows)<\/li>\n<li>7 4&#215;4 pick-up trucks equipped with snow plows<\/li>\n<li>3 motor graders for use as plows<\/li>\n<li>210 employees (including drivers and support staff)<\/li>\n<li>More than 6,000 tons of salt<\/li>\n<li>2 salt brine mixing systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Crews are assigned to 35 specific routes totaling 1,770 lane-miles, which is approximately the same distance as driving from Tulsa to San Francisco. Spreading and plowing routes are prioritized based on traffic counts.<br \/>\nThe following link includes the route map the City uses in its winter weather response: <a href=\"https:\/\/gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cityoftulsa.org%2Fwinterpreparedness&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cccolvin%40cityoftulsa.org%7Cf088477f4478488a60d508d8addd4dbd%7C79d58ae020484d8c9c598b1b7dfb4204%7C0%7C0%7C637450513291869698%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=M36QbbES3uviW09CEd3PBxCUczxAmwIRcajiqCZvus0%3D&amp;reserved=0\">www.cityoftulsa.org\/winterpreparedness<\/a><br \/>\nAdditionally, a list of frequently asked questions on the City\u2019s snow and ice response can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityoftulsa.org\/government\/departments\/streets-and-stormwater\/streets\/winter-preparedness\/snow-and-ice-frequently-asked-questions\/\">online<\/a>.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Oklahoma Eagle Newswire &nbsp; The city of Tulsa continues to be under an emergency declaration in response to winter weather &#8211; the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (TAEMA) Emergency Operations Plan is being followed. TAEMA\u2019s Emergency Operations Center is now fully activated. If Power Outages Occur In the event of a power outage or&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":19001,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[108,111,103,112,104,113,106],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-18998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-covid","category-featured","category-healthcare","category-local","category-regional","category-tulsa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18998"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18998\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18998"},{"taxonomy":"thb-sponsors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.willoughbyavenue.com\/eagle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/thb-sponsors?post=18998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}